KARACHI:
Tensions between private schools and the Sindh government over verification of free education lists eased on Tuesday after a detailed meeting between the Grand Alliance of Private Schools Associations and provincial education authorities. The alliance had announced a strike for January 9 to protest the verification process, citing concerns about harassment of school administrators and parents during inspections.
Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah accompanied by Anti-Corruption Agency Chairman Zulfiqar Ali Shah, School Education Secretary Zahid Ali Abbasi and Private Schools Director General Muhammad Afzal held the meeting with representatives of the alliance including Anwar Ali Bhatti, Syed Tariq Shah, Syed Shehzad Akhtar, Danish-ul-Zaman, Nasser Zaidi and Haider Ali. Discussions focused on data verification of free education in private institutions and the challenges that schools and parents face during the process.
Minister Shah acknowledged the concerns of private schools and stressed that while the court’s directives must be respected, the verification process must be transparent, structured and fair. He assured that the Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions will work closely with schools to address all issues and ensure that parents and students are not subjected to unnecessary inconvenience or humiliation.
The minister also praised private schools for their important contribution to education in Sindh, noting that together with the government, private institutions provide education to millions of children, while meeting financial obligations such as taxes, rent and utilities.
Following assurances of a coordinated and transparent verification mechanism, the Grand Alliance of Private School Associations announced the immediate withdrawal of the strike, affirming its commitment to cooperate with the government to safeguard students’ rights while maintaining compliance with judicial directives.
The resolution ensures that verification of free educational data will continue, but with clear guidelines to protect the dignity of school administrators and parents, fostering an environment of cooperation for both education providers and authorities.
Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi reported raids by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACE) on private schools to check lists of students receiving free tuition.
Under the law, private schools must provide free education to at least 10 percent of deserving students at their institutions.
However, recent ACE raids to check the facilities sparked a strong reaction.
Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Monem Zafar Khan said on Tuesday that it is extremely worrying that parents of children receiving free education are summoned to schools and their videos and photographs are recorded.
This is a totally unethical and illegal practice that seriously threatens the dignity and self-respect of these parents and subjects them to humiliation and a feeling of inferiority in society, which is intolerable in any civilized society.
